Bharat Patel, Amol Palekar, Shreekant Shiralkar

A Practical Guide to SAP" NetWeaver

Business Warehouse (BW) 7.0

Galileo Press
Bonn Boston

Contents
Preface

17

An Introduction to Business Intelligence

21

1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6

ABCD Corp.: Company Overview

Marketing Network
The Sales and Billing Process
Business Intelligence Requirements
The Business Planning Scenario
Summary

27
28
29
32
33
34

2.1
2.2

Evolution of SAP NetWeaver BW

Layers of SAP NetWeaver BW
2.2.1
Extraction Layer
2.2.2
Staging Layer
2.2.3
Transformation Layer
2.2.4
Loading Layer
2.2.5
Reporting and Analysis Layer

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38
39
40
40
41
41

2.2.6
Planning and Advanced Analytics Layer
Basic Navigation in SAP NetWeaver BW
2.3.1
Logging On to SAP NetWeaver W
2.3.2
Screen Elements
2.3.3
Basic Navigation Functions
2.3.4
Hide/Unhide
Data Warehousing Workbench Functions
Activation of SAP Business Content
2.5.1
Grouping
2.5.2
Collection Mode
2.5.3
Display
2.5.4 Activating the InfoObject

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56
60
61
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61

2.3

2.4
2.5

Contents

2.6

2.7

Implementation/Architecture Options with

SAP NetWeaver BW
2.6.1
Core Landscape
2.6.2
Peripheral Landscape
Avenues of SAP NetWeaver BW Learning

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2.8

Summary

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3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4

Types of InfoObjects
Creating an InfoArea
Creating an InfoObject Catalog
Creating a Characteristic InfoObject
3.4.1
Reference Characteristic Field
3.4.2
Template Field
Configuring a Characteristic InfoObject

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73
76
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78

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8
3.9

4.1

3.5.1
General Tab
3.5.2
Business Explorer Tab
3.5.3
Master Data/Texts Tab
3.5.4
HierarchyTab
3.5.5
Attributes Tab
3.5.6
Compounding Tab
Creating a Key Figure InfoObject
3.6.1
Template Field
3.6.2
Reference Key Figure Field
Configuring a Key Figure InfoObject
3.7.1
Type/UnitTab
3.7.2
Aggregation Tab
3.7.3
Additional Properties Tab
Creating a Unit InfoObject
Summary

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92
97
98
99
99
100
100
105
110
112
114

Introduction to DataStore Objects

4.1.1
Definition and Purpose
4.1.2
Types of DSOs

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118

Contents

4.2

4.3
4.4

4.5
4.6
4.7

4.8

5.1

5.2

5.3

Architecture of the Standard DSO

4.2.1
Types of Tables
4.2.2
Activation Process for a Standard DSO
4.2.3
0RECORDMODE
Designinga DSO
Configuration of the Standard DSO
4.4.1
Key Settings in a Standard DSO
4.4.2
Including InfoObjects in the DSO
4.4.3
Entering Data Fields
Configuration of Write-Optimized DSOs
Configuration of Direct Update DSOs
Usage Scenarios for DSOs
4.7.1
Data Staging
4.7.2
Temporary Storage Area
4.7.3
Analysis Process Designer
4.7.4
Pseudo-Delta
Summary

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120
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125
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130
132
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139
139
139
139
140

Modeling InfoCubes
5.1.1
Key Terms
5.1.2
Assignment Tables for Characteristics and Key Figures ....
5.1.3
Create Bubble Models
5.1.4
Dimensions
5.1.5
Classic Star Schema
5.1.6
The Extended Star Schema
5.1.7
InfoCube Considerations
Types of InfoCubes
5.2.1
Standard InfoCube
5.2.2
Real-Time InfoCube
5.2.3
Virtual Provider InfoCube
Creating a Standard InfoCube
5.3.1
Initial Setup
5.3.2
Using Templates for InfoObject Selection
5.3.3
Editing Dimensions
5.3.4
Adding New Dimensions
5.3.5
Adding Characteristics to Dimensions

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5.4

5.5

6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5

6.6

6.7
6.8
6.9

7.1

10

5.3.6
Adding Key Figures to an InfoCube
5.3.7
Selecting Navigation Attributes
5.3.8
Activating the InfoCube
Provider-Specific Properties
5.4.1
Setting Provider-Specific Properties for a
Single InfoObject
5.4.2
Setting Provider-Specific Properties for
Multiple InfoObjects
Summary

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167
168

170
172

Introduction to MultiProvider
Designing a MultiProvider
InfoSets
6.3.1
Usage
Creating an InfoSet
Additional Navigation Capabilities
6.5.1
Auto Arrange
6.5.2
Navigator
6.5.3
Link Maintenance
Global Properties
6.6.1
Join Is Time-Dependent
6.6.2
Most Recent Reporting for InfoObjects
6.6.3
Left Outer Join: Add Filter Value to On-Condition
6.6.4
Temporal Join
6.6.5
Changing the InfoSet Visual Setting
Left Outer Join in an InfoSet
Introduction to VirtualProviders
Summary

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211

Introduction to ETL
7.1.1
Elements in the ETL Process
7.1.2
Data Acquisition Interfaces
7.1.3
Transformation
7.1.4
Loading

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218

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Contents

7.2

7.3

7.4

7.5
7.6

7.7

8.1
8.2
8.3

8.4

8.5

8.6
8.7

Loading Master Data from a Flat File Source System

to an InfoObject
7.2.1
Creating a Flat File Source System
7.2.2
Creating a DataSource
7.2.3
Creating and Activating a Transformation
7.2.4
Creating a DTP for Loading Master Data
7.2.5
Creating an InfoPackage and Starting Data Extraction
7.2.6
Monitoring Data Extraction to the PSA
7.2.7
Monitoring the Data Transfer Process (DTP)
7.2.8
Maintaining Master Data
Loading Transaction Data from a Source System to a DSO
7.3.1
Step 2: Creating a Transaction DataSource
7.3.2
Step 3: Creating a Transformation
Loading Data from a DSO to an InfoCube
7.4.1
Time Conversion Transformation
7.4.2
Routine
Temporary Storage Areas and Error Stacks
Data Extraction from Non-SAP systems
7.6.1
DB Connect
7.6.2
UD Connect
Summary

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296

Settings in SAP ERP

Activating Business Content DataSources
Data Extraction Using the Logistic Cockpit
8.3.1
Initialization/Full Upload
8.3.2
Delta Loads
8.3.3
Data Extraction
Generic DataSources
8.4.1
Settings for a Generic DataSource
8.4.2
Creating a Generic DataSource
Making Generic DataSources Delta Capable
8.5.1
Delta-Specific Field Area
8.5.2
Settings Area
Extractor Checker
Summary

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311
312
312
314
316

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Contents

9.1
9.2
9.3

9.4

9.5

9.6

9.7
9.8

9.9

9.10
9.11
9.12

9.13
9.14
9.15
9.16

12

BEx Tools Landscape

Example Scenario
BEx Query Designer
9.3.1
BEx Query Designer Screen Layout
9.3.2
BEx Query Designer Menu Bar
Create a Simple BEx Query
9.4.1
Define Filter
9.4.2
Define Rows/Columns
9.4.3
Execute the Query and Analyze Data
OLAP Variables
9.5.1
Types of Variables
9.5.2
Processing Types of Variables
Variable Editor
9.6.1
Characteristic Variables (Manual Entry/Default Value)
9.6.2
Characteristic Variables (Replacement Path)
9.6.3
Characteristic Variables (Customer Exit)
9.6.4
Formula Variables
9.6.5
Text Variables
Filters - Selection Objects
Structures
9.8.1
Key Figure Structures
9.8.2
Characteristic Structures
9.8.3
Reusing Structures
Selections and Formulas
9.9.1
Selection
9.9.2
Formula
Restricted Key Figures
Calculated Key Figures
Properties of Query Elements
9.12.1 Set Properties of Characteristic Query Elements
9.12.2 Set Properties of Key Figure Query Elements
9.12.3 Query Properties
Conditions
Exceptions
Report-to-Report Interface
Summary

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Contents

10.1

Running Queries in BEx Analyzer

10.1.1 Execute a Query in BEx Analyzer
10.1.2 BEx Analysis Functions
10.2
Performing Information Analysis in BEx Analyzer
10.2.1 Applying Filters
10.2.2 Navigation Options
10.3
Local Properties and Formulas in BEx Analyzer
10.3.1 Local Properties of a Characteristic
10.3.2 Local Properties of a Key Figure
10.3.3 Local Query Properties
10.3.4 Local Formula
10.4 Saving and Reusing Workbooks in BEx Analyzer
10.5
Building an Analysis Application in BEx Analyzer
10.5.1 BEx Design Functions
10.5.2 Build a Simple Analysis Application
10.6
Running Queries in BEx Web Analyzer
10.6.1 Create a New Analysis with BEx Web Analyzer
10.6.2 BEx Web Analyzer Functions
10.7
Performing Information Analysis in BEx Web Analyzer
10.8 Analysis Filters and Settings in BEx Web Analyzer
10.9
Information Broadcasting
10.9.1 Information Broadcasting in BEx Web Analyzer
10.9.2 Maintain Broadcasting Settings on Different
BEx Objects
10.9.3 Create a New Setting in BEx Broadcaster
10.10 Summary

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422
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11.1

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11.2

Web Application Designer Overview

11.1.1 Starting the Web Application Designer
11.1.2 Different Screen Areas of Web Application Designer ....
Create a Simple Web Application
11.2.1 Create a Data Provider
11.2.2 Using an Analysis Web Item
11.2.3 Using a Dropdown Box

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13

Contents

11.2.4
11.2.5
11.2.6
11.2.7
11.2.8

14

Creating Charts
Adding a Command Button
Arrange Web Items
Validate and Save the Web Template
Execute Web Template

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471

11.3 Web Items

11.3.1 Standard Webltems
11.3.2 Advanced
11.3.3 Miscellaneous
11.4 Working with Commands
11.4.1 Commands for Data Providers
11.4.2 Commands for Planning Applications
11.4.3 Commandsfor Web Items
11.4.4 Commands for Web Templates
11.5 Web Template Properties
11.6 Summary

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494

12.1 An Overview of Planning

12.2 Planning Requirements in ABCD Corp
12.3 SAP NetWeaver BW Integrated Planning Components
12.3.1 Planning Modeler and Planning Wizard
12.3.2 Real-Time InfoCube
12.3.3 Characteristic Relationships
12.3.4 DataSlices
12.3.5 Aggregation Level
12.3.6 Planning Filter
12.3.7 Planning Functions
12.3.8 Planning Sequence
12.3.9 Input-Ready Query
12.4 Planning Applications
12.4.1 Excel-Based Planning Application
12.4.2 Web-Based Planning Applications
12.5 Planning Locks
12.6 Changes to Data in Real-Time InfoCubes
12.7 Summary

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Contents

13.1 Basic Elements of a SAP BusinessObjects Universe

13.2 Creatinga Universe
13.2.1 Based on an InfoCube
13.2.2 Based on a BEx Query
13.3 Web Intelligence
13.3.1 Creating a Web Intelligence Report Based on a
Universe
13.3.2 Editing and Formatting Web Intelligence Documents
13.3.3 Performing Local Calculations in a Webl Document
13.4 Summary

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588

14.1 DSO Administration and Maintenance

14.1.1 InfoProvider Administration Screen Tasks DSO
14.1.2 Performance Improvement Tasks
14.2 InfoCube Administration and Maintenance
14.2.1 InfoProvider Administration Screen Tasks InfoCube ....
14.2.2 Performance Improvement Tasks
14.3 Aggregates
14.4 Compression
14.5 Process Chain
14.5.1 Creating a Process Chain
14.5.2 Setting Email Alerts
14.6 Analysis Authorizations
14.6.1 Step 1: Define the InfoObject
14.6.2 Step 2: Create an Authorization Object
14.6.3 Step 3: Assign a User ID
14.7 Other Administration and Maintenance Tasks
14.7.1 Executing an Attribute Hierarchy Change Run
14.7.2 Deleting Extra Aggregates
14.7.3 Deleting PSA Data
14.7.4 Deleting DTP Temporary Storage
14.7.5 Using Report SAP_INFOCUBE_DESIGNS
14.7.6 Checking Data Consistency
14.8 Summary

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Contents

15.1 Open Hub

15.1.1 The Open Hub Concept
15.1.2 Creating an Open Hub Destination
15.2 Analysis Process Designer
15.2.1 Analysis Workbench
15.2.2 Creating an Analysis Process
15.3 Remodeling
15.3.1 Need for Remodeling
15.3.2 Creating Remodeling Rules
15.4 Summary

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Case Study: ABCD Corp

Glossary
Important OSS Notes
The Authors

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Index

16

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